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When it comes to touring The Natural State, you have your pick of self-guided driving or walking tours around some of the state's most well-known attractions, or hopping on a guided tour that lets you take the guesswork out of finding the best attractions that Arkansas has to offer. Either way you go, a little planning and research will go a long way in getting the most out of your tour.

Items you will need

Computer with Internet

Credit or debit card

Step 1

Browse the official Arkansas tourism site to get a feel for the types of attractions available in the state. A good place to start is the "Arkansas Must-See Attractions" page -- located within the Official Site of Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism. Also check out the "Virtual Tour" page on the same site, to see some of the attractions and tourist sites in videos and photos.

Step 2

Discuss your tour plans with the people in your group to decide what types of things you would like to include on your tour. Decide whether you want your tour to be a few hours or a few days, whether you would like to stay in hotels, campgrounds or other accommodations, and whether you would like to take a self-guided or guided tour. Make a list of the things you would like to do, and decide on a time of year you will take your tour. While the weather is fairly mild most of the year in Arkansas, some of your activities may be restricted if you choose to travel during the busy summer months or cooler winter months.

Step 3

Browse Arkansas South's "Tours & Trip Ideas" page, TourArkansas.com's tours page or Arkansas.com's "Vacation Kit" page to start planning your ideal route for your tour through Arkansas. Write down the stops you will make. If you have decided you want to take a guided tour, check out the Arkansas Tours website or Arkansas.com's "Group Tours" page to browse the tours available during your vacation time.

Step 4

Make your reservations. If you're taking a short guided tour, call or email the tour provider and let them know the tour date and how many people in your party, then provide them a credit or debit card to reserve your space on the tour. If you're opting for a self-guided tour, make reservations at any hotels or campgrounds you'll need along the way, and consider making reservations at any restaurants in the towns you want to stay in. Provide hotels or campgrounds with a credit or debit card number to reserve your space.

Step 5

Print out any confirmation pages you receive when you make your reservation and bring them along when you go on your tour.

Step 6

Check the weather the night before your tour so you'll be prepared for the weather conditions. While the weather is typically mild in the state, there may be the occasional rainstorm or other inclement weather, so plan ahead. If bad weather is going to hamper your tour plans, call the tour operator ahead of time to ask for a rain check or refund.

Resources

About the Author

Nicole Vulcan has been a journalist since 1997, covering parenting and fitness for The Oregonian, careers for CareerAddict, and travel, gardening and fitness for Black Hills Woman and other publications. Vulcan holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and journalism from the University of Minnesota. She's also a lifelong athlete and is pursuing certification as a personal trainer.

Leaf Group is a USA TODAY content partner providing general travel information. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.